COVID-19 Screening, Samples Centre Established In Jammu and Kashmir For Migrant Labourers

Anantnag: A COVID-19 screening and sampling centre has been established at Qazigund in Anantnag for migrant labourers coming from outside Kashmir Valley. Presently, only migrant labourers who are working at brick kilns in Kashmir Valley are allowed to enter. The sampling centre was established on July 14, 2020. “The samples of migrants returning from various other places, are being collected here. We have so far collected 3500 samples so far,” said Syed Zubair, Magistrate.

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Under the guidance of DDC (District Development Commissioner), Anantnag, this centre has crossed one more milestone, said Dr Ashiq Hussain, Nodal officer sampling centre.

The move followed complaints of travellers missing the screening by taking alternative routes. Police along with the surveillance team from the Health Department have been inquiring the visitors about their travel history within India.

At the checkpoint later their samples are taken, the passengers have to undergo thermal screening as well. At this checkpoint, passengers travelling in contract carriage and heavy vehicles are being screened, while as at the already established one at Zig, would now manage passengers of private vehicles.

The same screening centre will be used for Amarnath pilgrims once they start entering Kashmir valley after July 21. A team of 18 people that includes doctors, paramedics and traffic cops has been designated for screening at each check post.

I have come from Haryana, we are here to get our tests testing. I have 14 more people le along me. Government has taken a really good initiative, said Akash Kumar, labourer.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.